长柄石杉居群遗传多样性和遗传结构的AFLP分析

石杉科植物因所含石杉碱甲(Huperzine A)对中老年痴呆等具有良好疗效,近年来倍受关注.利用AFLP分子标记对武夷山脉广布种长柄石杉[Huperzia serrata(Thunb.ex Murray)Trev.var.longipetiolata(Spring)H.M.Chang]7个居群112株个体进行遗传多样性和居群遗传结构分析.选用多态性高、分辨力强的8对选择性扩增引物组合共获得675个位点,其中多态位点比例为69.38%.居群内观测等位基因数(Na)为1.633,有效等位基因数(Ne)1.493;Nei’s基因多样性指数(He)与Shannon多态性信息指数(I)的平均值分别为0.272和0.392,多样性最高为地处武夷山脉中段的泰宁居群和建宁居群,最低为山脉北段的光泽居群.居群总基因多样性(Ht)为0.327 3,居群内基因多样性(Hs)为0.272 2,居群间的遗传分化系数(Gst)为0.168 1,表明居群内变异是长柄石杉遗传多样性的主要来源.由Gst估计,武夷山脉长柄石杉自然居群的基因流(Nm)为2.474 0.邻接树分析表明居群间遗传亲缘关系与地理位置相关.武夷山脉长柄石杉较高的遗传多样性和基因流水平表明其仍然具有相当的适应(生存)能力和进化潜力,这可能与其生物学(异交水平)、生态学特性及武夷山脉相对良好的生境条件有关.     

大贵寺国家森林公园野生青檀居群的遗传多样性

利用ISSR分子标记技术对湖北省大贵寺国家森林公园野生青檀（Pteroceltis tatarinowii Maxim．）居群进行遗传多样性分析。用11条ISSR引物对6个青檀居群64个样品进行扩增,扩增片段长度在200bp至3000bp之间,检测到179个位点,其中多态位点165个,多态位点百分率（P）为92．14％。青檀在物种水平上的Nei基因多样性指数（胁）和Shannon信息指数∽分别为0．273和0．423,在居群水平上分别为0．225和0．343,显示出青檀有着较高的遗传多样性。居群间的遗传分化系数（Gsr）为0．192,表明青檀居群间存在着较大的遗传分化;UPGMA聚类分析表明遗传距离与海拔差距有一定的相关性,相邻海拔的青檀居群间遗传距离较近。不同海拔导致的异质生境可能是影响青檀居群遗传分化的主要原因。     

缢蛏6个群体遗传结构的ISSR分析

采用ISSR分子标记对采自福建宁德(ND)、浙江台州(TZ)、上海崇明(CM)、山东海阳(HY)、天津汉沽(HG)和辽宁庄河(ZH)的缢蛏6个野生群体进行遗传多样性和遗传关系分析.筛选出10条ISSR引物对6个群体共216个样品进行扩增,共得到138个清晰的扩增位点,其中多态性位点135个,多态位点百分率为97.83%,在物种水平上的遗传多样性较为丰富.群体遗传多样性分析结果表明,6个群体的多态位点百分率在61.59%～72.46%之间,基因多样性指数和Shannon's信息指数分别在0.104 3～0.176 6和0.178 9～0.280 8之间,其中ND群体的多样性指数最低.群体间遗传分化、遗传距离和聚类结构显示,ND群体和TZ群体亲缘关系最近,首先聚为一支,之后依次与CM群体及HG群体和HY群体聚类,最后与ZH群体聚在一起,表明地理位置较远的群体,遗传距离也较远.     

入侵植物加拿大一枝黄花和本地一枝黄花的遗传多样性比较

为了阐明加拿大一枝黄花成功入侵的机制,利用简单序列重复区间标记(ISSR)方法对加拿大一枝黄花和本地一枝黄花的遗传多样性进行比较研究。从100条引物中筛选出12条引物用于PCR扩增,利用POPGEN32软件对2种一枝黄花进行遗传多样性分析。结果表明,加拿大一枝黄花在物种水平上的多态位点百分率为95.19%,Nei’s基因多样性指数为0.308 5,Shannon’s信息指数为0.415 8;本地一枝黄花在物种水平上的多态位点百分率(89.80%)、Nei’s基因多样性指数(0.249 1)和Shannon’s信息指数(0.383 4)都比加拿大一枝黄花小。加拿大一枝黄花和本地一枝黄花居群间遗传分化系数分别为0.118 2和0.131 3,居群内变异分别为0.881 8和0.868 7,表明2个物种居群间的遗传分化不明显,遗传一致度高,且主要的遗传变异存在于居群内。入侵植物加拿大一枝黄花具有较高遗传多样性,且高于本地一枝黄花,这可能是加拿大一枝黄花成功入侵的原因之一。     

黄连木居群遗传多样性的SSR标记分析

为系统揭示黄连木天然居群在遗传多样性水平上的差异及遗传分化状况,采用SSR(Simple sequence repeats)分子标记对其8个居群进行遗传多样性分析.在建立良好的反应体系基础上,从已有的阿月浑子SSR引物中筛选出9对适合进行黄连木遗传分析的引物,在8个黄连木居群中共检测到43条等位基因,位点平均等位基因数为4.78,平均多态位点百分率达90.28%.各居群内平均有效等位基因数为2.08,平均期望杂合度(He)为0.472,说明各居群的遗传多样性处于中等水平.按检测到的有效等位基因数(Ne)和期望杂合度(He),各居群的遗传多样性由高至低依次为安康唐县顺平辉县略阳栾川林州涉县.居群间的遗传分化系数(FST)平均为0.319,说明居群内变异是黄连木变异的主要来源,并根据遗传距离将8个居群分为三大类.     

长柄石杉不同地理居群叶绿体DNA trnL-trnF序列变异与聚类分析

采用直接测序法,对石杉科广布种长柄石杉(Huperzia serrata var.longipetiolata)21个居群(福建省19个居群和江西省2个居群)共计126株个体的叶绿体DNA trnL-trnF序列进行测序,用Clustal X和MEGA5.0软件进行序列分析,UPGMA法构建聚类图,以期了解序列变异与地理分布的关系,为长柄石杉资源的保护及开发利用提供参考依据.扩增获得的序列全长在928-967 bp之间,经排序后两端切平,序列长925 bp,G+C平均含量为34.05%;21个长柄石杉居群的cpDNA trnL-trnF序列存在20个变异位点,5个信息位点.UPGMA聚类结果显示,福建省居群与江西居群存在较大遗传距离,分聚为不同分支;福建省内19个居群再分聚为3个分支,其中11个居群间的遗传距离为零.研究结果表明长柄石杉居群间存在较明显的遗传分化和一定强度的基因流,居群间的叶绿体DNA trnL-trnF序列变异与地理分布尤其是山脉形成的隔离和屏障有关,较高的遗传多样性和基因流水平有利于长柄石杉种群的生存与进化.     

麻疯树AFLP体系的建立与优化

为了建立麻疯树AFLP(Amplified fragment length polymorphism)反应体系及筛选出扩增条带丰富的引物,以17份来自不同地方的麻疯树的幼嫩叶片为试材,对影响AFLP分析的关键因素包括DNA的提取质量和浓度、MseⅠ/EcoRⅠ酶切反应时间和浓度、银染方法等进行了研究,从64对引物组合中筛选出适合麻疯树的引物.结果表明,改良的CTAB方法提取的DNA质量比较好.建立了一种适于麻疯树AFLP的优化体系:模板DNA的用量为400 ng,酶切反应时间为3 h,筛选出T8对适合麻疯树扩增条带多、多态性强的引物.最终建立了适用于麻疯树的AFLP反应体系,并筛选出适合麻疯树的引物,为今后利用AFLP标记技术进行麻疯树的遗传多样性分析提供了标准化程序.图5表2参15     

长江中下游及云贵高原芦苇居群的遗传变异特征

芦苇(Phragmites australis)为全球广泛分布的多型种,在水生生态系统,尤其是湿地生态系统中承担重要的生态功能,准确划分其生态型可为种质资源保护与利用提供理论依据,同时也为修复受损生态系统异地引种提供参考。利用叶绿体DNA rpl16基因序列,选取淡水湖泊较为集中且地理跨度较大的长江中下游和云贵高原,以地理位置为划分指标,探讨19个湖滨带芦苇居群的亲缘关系、遗传多样性和遗传结构,并分析了不同湖泊芦苇形态差异与遗传差异的异同,旨在分子水平为不同地理区域芦苇生态型的划分提供遗传分化方面的证据。结果表明:(1)rpl16基因序列分析显示:长江中下游芦苇居群基因水平上的变异程度较云贵高原的低;(2)基于rpl16基因序列重建的最简约系统发育树显示:以地理区域为划分指标,可将长江中下游和云贵高原的芦苇居群分为两个单系;(3)云贵高原芦苇居群的核苷酸多样性A=0.00047,单倍型多态性Hd=0.466,其遗传多样性显著高于长江中下游(Pi=0,Hd=0);(4)居群水平上的遗传分化系数F_(st)=0.535 37,其中53.54%的遗传变异来自于不同地理区域居群间,长江中下游芦苇居群的遗传差异指数F_(st)=0.537 24,基因流N_m=0.215 34,云贵高原芦苇居群的遗传差异指数F_(st)=0.532 78,基因流N_m=0.21923,居群间的遗传分化较强烈。分析结果证明了两种地理生态型芦苇具有遗传上的差异,且地理隔离可能是引起差异的主要原因。     

海南岛及邻近陆地拟细鲫的种群遗传分化和亲缘地理过程

为了解海南岛及邻近陆地拟细鲫(Aphyocypris normalis)的遗传分化和亲缘地理过程,采用线粒体细胞色素b(Cyt b)对9个种群共124个个体的遗传多样性和遗传分化进行评估,并探讨这一物种的亲缘地理结构及演化历史.结果显示,在1 140 bp的序列中,共检测到87个核苷酸变异位点,定义了34个单倍型.基于...     

基于分子标记的油松种群遗传保护分析

利用分子标记技术分析了山西5个天然油松种群140个个体的遗传特征,比较了不同种群的多态位点显性频率、遗传多样性指数、基因流和分化系数.筛选的5个ISSR引物和5个RAPD引物共扩增到位点68个,其中多态位点50个遗传参数的统计分析显示,多态位点的显性频率、遗传多样性指数、分化系数分别介于0.000 0～1.000 0、0.0200～0.500 0和0.003 7～0.615 62:间,表明油松种群遗传多样性的主要来源是等位基因频率的不同和部分位点较大程度的遗传分化.根据油松的种群遗传学特征,认为只有加强天然油松林的生境保护,使其不产生片断化,才能使油松的遗传资源得到有效保护.图2表4参16     

利用RAPD标记分析卧龙自然保护区不同海拔沙棘种群的遗传变异

从1800m到3400m五个海拔连续取样,用RAPD分子标记研究了卧龙自然保护区中国沙棘种群的遗传结构和遗传变异.用11条寡核苷酸引物,扩增得到151个重复性好的位点,其中143个多态位点,多态率达94.7%.在5个沙棘种群中,总遗传多样性值(HT)为0.289,B种群内的遗传多样性值为0.315,这完全符合沙棘这种多年生、远交的木本植物高遗传变异的特性.5个种群内遗传多样性随海拔升高呈低—高—低变异趋势,在2200m海拔处的B种群遗传多样性达最大值0.315,3400m海拔处的E种群则表现最小,仅0.098.5个种群间的遗传分化值GST=0.406,也即是说有40.6%的遗传变异存在于种群间,59.4%存在种群内.1800m海拔处的A种群与其他种群的明显分离是造成种群间遗传分化大的原因.UPGMA聚类图和PCoA散点图分别进一步确证了5个种群间关系和所有个体间的关系.最后,经过Mantel检测,遗传距离与海拔表现了明显的相关性(r=0.646,P=0.011).     

Conservation genetics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lumnitzera littorea</Emphasis> (Combretaceae), an endangered mangrove,from the Indo-West Pacific

Mangrove forests, with their ecological significance and economic benefits, are vital inter-tidal wetland ecosystems. Lumnitzera littorea (Combreataceae) is a non-viviparous mangrove distributed in tropical Asia and North Australia. Due to natural and human impacts, populations of this species have been isolated, fragmented, and highly disturbed. In China, L. littorea is an endangered species, restricted to small regions of Hainan Island. The genetic composition of five populations of this species from the Indo-West Pacific (South China, Malay Peninsula, Sri Lanka, North Australia) was assessed using inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) makers. At the species level, expected mean heterozygosity (He) was 0.240 with 75.6% of loci polymorphic (P). However, genetic variation was much lower at the population level (P = 37.1%, He = 0.118). A high coefficient of gene differentiation (Gst = 0.515) and low level of gene flow (Nm = 0.470) indicated significant genetic differentiation among populations. AMOVA also indicated that more than half the total variation (58.4%) was partitioned among populations. The high degree of differentiation observed among populations emphasizes the need for appropriate conservation measures that incorporate additional populations into protected areas, and achieve the restoration of separate, degraded populations.     

Effects of Population Size, Mating System, and Evolutionary Origin on Genetic Diversity in Spiranthes sinensis and S. hongkongensis

Hong Kong once supported more than 109 species of wild orchids, of which approximately 30% were endemic. Most of the local wild orchids have now become rare or endangered. I conducted a comparative study of genetic diversity in two closely related terrestrial orchids, an allotetraploid, Spiranthes hongkongensis , and its diploid progenitor, S. sinensis , to assess the effects of the population bottleneck associated with the origin of the polyploid and to investigate the relationships between number of breeding individuals, mating system, and level of isozyme variation in their populations. Nearly complete genetic uniformity was observed both within and among populations of S. hongkongensis . In contrast, S. sinensis had high levels of genetic variation for all of the genetic parameters examined. Regression analysis of population size and several components of genetic diversity in S. sinensis revealed that, among various measures of within-population variation, the proportion of polymorphic loci ( P ) and average number of alleles per locus ( A ) or per polymorphic locus ( A _p ) were the most sensitive to population size ( R ² = 0.942, p = 0.001; R ² = 0.932, p = 0.002; and R ² = 0.923, p = 0.002 respectively). The highly negative correlation ( r = −0.999, p < 0.01) between population size and the mean frequency of private alleles in pairwise population comparisons, p (1), indicated that population size may also be used to predict the extent of population differentiation caused by random genetic drift. Conservation of genetic diversity in S. sinensis could be maximized by protecting several of both large and small populations, whereas fewer populations may be needed to achieve this goal for S. hongkongensis.     

Genetic Variation and the Immune Response in Natural Populations of Pocket Gophers

It is thought that genetic variation can affect the persistence of a population through its influence on disease susceptibility. We assessed genome-wide genetic variation, variation at a locus involved in the immune system, and acceptance or rejection of skin grafts in three natural populations of the pocket gopher ( Thomomys bottae ). Multilocus DNA fingerprints confirmed previous allozyme data, revealing high levels of variation among Hastings Reserve pocket gophers and almost complete within-population identity for individuals from the two Patricks Point populations (Patricks J and Patricks F), although Patricks J animals were dissimilar to animals from Patricks F despite their proximity. Individuals from the high-variation population consistently rejected within-population reciprocal skin grafts, whereas Patricks J and Patricks F individuals accepted within-population grafts. Patricks J and Patricks F individuals were found to be immunocompetent, however, as revealed by the ability of all individuals to reject between-population grafts, including those that previously accepted within-population grafts. A DNA heteroduplex analysis was then used to directly characterize variability at DQα, a locus of the immune system's major histocompatability complex. Both populations low in genetic variation were fixed for unique DQα alleles, whereas observed heterozygosity in the Hastings population was 0.43, ascribable to at least three unique alleles. These data are in accord with previous cheetah skin-graft results and confirm that skin grafts can be used to assess genetic similarity. We suggest that although many animal populations can persist with extremely low levels of genetic variation in the wild, such populations may be at a greater risk of extinction from particular pathogens because of their genetic uniformity.     

Evaluation of the Contribution of Genetic Research to the Management of the Endangered Plant Zieria prostrata

Abstract: Zieria prostrata (Rutaceae) is known from only four headlands within a 3-km stretch of coastline in New South Wales, Australia. The species was presumed to have occurred at a headland 24 km south of its present range. We used random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis to assess patterns of genetic variation within and among the extant populations. The analysis also included an individual reputedly rescued from the now extinct population. A high level of population divergence was revealed by principal coordinate analysis and an analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA; 37% among populations). Our genetic findings provide implications for the conservation management of the species. First, the loss of any one population would lead to a severe loss of genetic variation. Second, an adequate ex situ collection must sample the full range of genetic diversity from all populations. Third, the consequences of mixing populations may be an important conservation consideration if further translocations proceed. Fourth, the individual apparently sampled prior to its population extinction is genetically similar to individuals from one of the extant sites. This degree of similarity was unexpected and, after further investigation, led to the conclusion that prior existence of the species at the site is doubtful. Subsequently, a planned reintroduction program was abandoned. So far, of these four management implications, only the last has had a direct management outcome. Those implications that failed to lead to practical management outcomes did so because the same management recommendations could be obtained without genetic research. Clearly, the challenge for more effective conservation is to identify those cases in which genetic studies are likely to produce practical outcomes for conservation managers. This may be best achieved by assessing the outcomes of genetic studies already conducted.     

Genetic Diversity, Population Size, and Fitness in Central and Peripheral Populations of a Rare Plant Lychnis viscaria

Abstract: Genetic diversity is expected to decrease in small and isolated populations as a consequence of bottlenecks, founder effects, inbreeding, and genetic drift. The genetics and ecology of the rare perennial plant Lychnis viscaria (Caryophyllaceae) were studied in both peripheral and central populations within its distribution area. We aimed to investigate the overall level of genetic diversity, its spatial distribution, and possible differences between peripheral and central populations by examining several populations with electrophoresis. Our results showed that the level of genetic diversity varied substantially among populations (  H _exp = 0.000–0.116) and that the total level of genetic diversity (mean H _exp = 0.056) was low compared to that of other species with similar life-history attributes. The peripheral populations of L. viscaria had less genetic variation (mean H _exp = 0.034) than the central ones (0.114). Analysis of genetic structure suggested limited gene flow (mean F _ST = 0.430) and high differentiation among populations, emphasizing the role of genetic drift (  N _e m = 0.33). Isolation was even higher than expected based on the physical distance among populations. We also focused on the association between population size and genetic diversity and possible effects on fitness of these factors. Population size was positively correlated with genetic diversity. Population size and genetic diversity, however, were not associated with fitness components such as germination rate, seedling mass, or seed yield. There were no differences in the measured fitness components between peripheral and central populations. Even though small and peripheral populations had lower levels of genetic variation, they were as viable as larger populations, which emphasizes their potential value for conservation.     

Temporal genetic variation in populations of the limpet Cellana grata from Hong Kong shores

Variations in the relative contributions of gene flow and spatial and temporal variation in recruitment are considered the major determinants of population genetic structure in marine organisms. Such variation can be assessed through repeated measures of the genetic structure of a species over time. To test the relative importance of these two phenomena, temporal variation in genetic composition was measured in the limpet Cellana grata, among four annual cohorts over 10 years at four rocky shores in Hong Kong. A total of 408 limpets, comprising individuals from 1998, 1999, 2006 and 2007 cohorts were screened for genetic variation using five microsatellite loci. Minor but significant genetic differentiation was detected among samples from the 1998/1999 collection (F _ST = 0.0023), but there was no significant differentiation among the 2006/2007 collection (F _ST = 0.0008). Partitioning of genetic variation among shores was also significant in 1998/1999 but not in the 2006/2007 collection, although there was no correlation between genetic and geographic distances. There was no significant difference between collections made in 1998/1999 and 2006/2007. This lack of clear structure implies a high level of gene flow, but differentiation with time may be the result of stochastic recruitment variation among shores. Estimates of effective population size were not high (599, 95% C.L. 352–11397), suggesting the potential susceptibility of the populations to genetic drift, although a significant bottleneck effect was not detected. These findings indicate that genetic structuring between populations of C. grata in space and time may result from spatio-temporal variation in recruitment, but the potential development of biologically significant differentiation is suppressed by a lack of consistency in recruitment variability and high connectivity among shores.     

Unprecedented Low Levels of Genetic Variation and Inbreeding Depression in an Island Population of the Black-Footed Rock-Wallaby

Abstract: It has been argued that demographic and environmental factors will cause small, isolated populations to become extinct before genetic factors have a significant negative impact. Islands provide an ideal opportunity to test this hypothesis because they often support small, isolated populations that are highly vulnerable to extinction. To assess the potential negative impact of isolation and small population size, we compared levels of genetic variation and fitness in island and mainland populations of the black-footed rock-wallaby ( Petrogale lateralis [Marsupialia: Macropodidae]). Our results indicate that the Barrow Island population of P. lateralis has unprecedented low levels of genetic variation (  H _e = 0.053, from 10 microsatellite loci) and suffers from inbreeding depression (reduced female fecundity, skewed sex ratio, increased levels of fluctuating asymmetry). Despite a long period of isolation ( ∼ 1600 generations) and small effective population size (  N _e ∼ 15), demographic and environmental factors have not yet driven this population to extinction. Nevertheless, it has been affected significantly by genetic factors. It has lost most of its genetic variation and become highly inbred (  F _e = 0.91), and it exhibits reduced fitness. Because several other island populations of P. lateralis also exhibit exceptionally low levels of genetic variation, this phenomenon may be widespread. Inbreeding in these populations is at a level associated with high rates of extinction in populations of domestic and laboratory species. Genetic factors cannot then be excluded as contributing to the extinction proneness of small, isolated populations.     

Developing a Sampling Strategy for Baptisia arachnifera Based on Allozyme Diversity

We analyzed the amount and distribution of genetic variation in Baptisia arachnifera Duncan to develop a sampling strategy for ex situ research. Baptisia arachnifera is an endangered plant species endemic to the coastal plain of Georgia (U.S.) where all populations are within 16 km of each other. A reduction in numbers of individuals has been observed during the last 50 years. Baptisia arachnifera was polymorphic at 24% of the 37 loci examined with an average of 1.32 alleles per locus. The genetic diversity index was relatively low ( H_e = 0.097) as expected for endemic species. Populations were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, suggesting that the species is outcrossing. Consistent with this conclusion is the observation that the majority (approximately 90%) of the genetic variation present in the species is found within individual populations. Indirect evidence of gene flow between populations was detected (   Nm = 2.35). The close proximity of the populations and the recent reduction in population sizes suggest that the populations surveyed may be fragments of a once more continuous gene pool. Based on the observed distribution of genetic diversity among populations (G_ST = 0.096), sampling two populations would capture 99% of the allozyme diversity surveyed. Allozyme data were used to determine which 2 of the 10 populations surveyed should be sampled to maximize the ex situ conservation of genetic diversity. Although the paper-producing companies that own most of the land where Baptisia arachnifera occurs are modifying their harvesting techniques, the species could become extinct without more effective management and preservation efforts.